Temperatures in Yakutsk, Siberia, have dropped to -45 degrees Celsius, making it one of the coldest cities on Earth. Located roughly 450km south of the Arctic Circle, the city of 300,000 routinely endures extreme winter conditions, with locals adapting through thick clothing and hot tea.
On Monday, residents were seen going about their daily routines amid frozen cars and icy pavements. Schools have closed for the week, switching to remote lessons. At markets, meat and fish freeze instantly without refrigeration, while indoor cooking continues with hearty soups, stews, and dumplings.
Kiun B, a Yakutsk native, warned that without proper attire, “you can easily freeze in minutes.” In a video, she demonstrated her layering system: leggings, camel wool knee pads, wool socks, and insulated trousers for legs; a jumper, lightweight jacket, and heavy-duty Arctic winter coat for the upper body, topped with a woolly hat, scarf, mittens, and Yakutian fur boots.
She described the shock of stepping outside: “The cold air hits your lungs... it becomes harder to breathe, your throat feels dry, and every breath feels heavy.” Kiun noted that the city’s infrastructure is designed for extreme cold, with roads, buildings, and utilities surviving temperatures below -70C, and most apartments having 24/7 central heating.
Locals insist the cold is bearable as long as there is no biting wind. Despite the challenges, life continues in Yakutsk, where residents have mastered survival in one of the planet’s harshest climates.
